High speed feeding of paper forms



Oct. 5, 1965 o. W. BENBow HIGH SPEED FEEDING OF PAPER FORMS 2Sheets-Sheecl l Filed June 25, 1962 Ufa] Wepaw Oct. 5, 1965 o. W. BENBOW3,209,972

HIGH SPEED FEEDING OF PAPER FORMS Filed June 25, 1962 2 Sheecs-SheecI 2go o o of4`o o O 'wmmowfff gmomomomoglfl' IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,209,972 HIGH SPEED FEEDING F PAPER FORMS Opal W. Benbow,3624 Connecticut Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed June 25, 1962, Ser.No. 204,672 Claims. (Cl. 226-74) This invention relates to the advancingof paper forms through accounting or printing machines or the like andin particular to improved apparatus for effectively advancing paperforms through such machines at high speed While printing or otheroperations are simultaneously performed on the forms.

Electric accounting machines and data processing output machinesgenerally use continuous paper forms, in single or multiple parts whichare advanced through the machine while the desired information is typedthereon by an operator yor by means of an automatic system which takesthe information from a punched data card or magnetic tape. The formsused by these machines have marginally punched holes and,conventionally, the machines employ a drive means for engaging thesemarginal holes in order to advance the continuous forms through themachine. More particularly, prior advancing mechanisms have oftenutilized a driven endless belt arranged parallel to the paper adjacenteach margin. Each belt has a plurality of spaced pins or lugs extendingperpendicularly therefrom so that the pins or lugs project into theholes and thereby drag the forms along with the belts. In order tomaintain the margin `of the forms in engagement with the belt, it hasheretofore been the practice to provide a stationary flat guide plate orthe like parallel to the form on the side opposite the endless belt.During operation lof the drive the form engages the guide and slidestherealong, or if the pins extend beyond the form the latter is merelyheld loosely between the guide and the belt. A drive system of thisgeneral kind is disclosed in Patent No. 2,862,708 issued December 2,1958, and in Patent No. 2,140,028, issued December 13, 1938.

While the driven belt and stationary guide plate arrangement performssatisfactorily at relatively low belt speeds of about 100 lines perminute, it has been found that as the belt speed is increased the formstend to ride up off the tapered pins. The forms then come positivelyinto sliding contact with whatever stationary guide means have beenprovided and thereby impart considerable frictional drag to the paper.This resistance to movement of the form not only places strains on thebelt and other elements of the drive, but also may cause the paper totear or ride off the pins, necessitating stopping yof the machine formanual adjustament of forms. Further, when a plurality of superimposedforms are used, the forms nearest the guide may slip relative to theother forms, thus changing the alignment between some of the forms.Still further, at belt speeds of about 600 lines per minute or morewhich are provided in some types of high-speed printers, abrupt stoppingof the belt results in sliding or tearing of the form.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide aprinting machine or the like with a feed and advance mechanism whicheffectively conveys a .paper form having marginally punched holesthrough the machine at high speed without creating frictional drag orother destructive forces on the paper.

It is a further object to provide a printing machine with a feed andadvance mechanism which effectively maintains alignment of a pluralityof superimposed continuous forms having marginally punched holes whileconveying the forms through the machine at high speed.

It is a still further object to provide a feed and advance mechanism ofthe above type which includes opposed pairs of endless belts for eachmargin of the form, the belts ICC of each pair being arranged so thatthe pins on one belt project into the apertures on the other belt, thuspositively engaging the paper between the two belts without creating anyfrictional dragon the paper.

The invention will be further understood from a reading of the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in Which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a printingmachine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of one pair of the endless belts ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a pair of belts of modified form;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a pair of belts of a stillfurther modified form;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the two belts of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the two belts of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a pair of opposed wheels providedwith opposed pins and apertures; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a pair of moditied wheels.

According to the invention the feed and advance mechanism for the paperform includes at least one pair of opposed endless belts or chains forgripping an edge lof the form between them. At least one of the belts isprovided with longitudinally spaced pins extending outwardly at rightangles thereto and the opposed belt is provided with longitudinallyspaced apertures or cavities therein to receive the ends `of the pins onthe first-mentioned belt.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a printing machine 10 of a type adapted to usemarginally punched continuous forms 12 having holes 13 in their edges isillustrated somewhat schematically. The machine includes as essentialparts an advance mechanism 14 for advancing the form 12 toward the rightas viewed in the drawing and a case 16 supporting the drive mechanismand containing the printing machinery, motor drive for the advancemechanism 14 land other mechanical and electrical elements for operatingthe machine. The printing machinery (not shown) is located forwardly ofand below the advance mechanism 14 and, `as is conventional in the art,includes a roller behind the form 12 and typing elements in front of theform adjacent the roller. A guide base 20 having a horizontal portion 22is mounted behind the advance mechanism 14 for guiding the form on to asuitable table 24 `or other receptacle for receiving the same.

As shown, the advance mechanism includes .a frame 24 having verticalside plates 26 spaced apart by a pair of horizontally extending bars 28.A pair of spaced, parallel upper shafts 30 and 32 extend between theside plates 24 transversely of the direction of travel of the form 12and are suitably journaled for rotation in the plates. A similar pair ofshafts 34 and 36 are journaled in the plates 34 below the upper shafts30 and 32. The forward upper and lower shafts 30 and 34 extend laterallybeyond the side plates 26 and are provided with gear wheels 35 whichintermesh with a pair of idler gears 35. The lower shaft has, inaddition, a sprocket Wheel 39 thereon engaging an endless chain 40 whichis driven intermittently clockwise by a suitable motor and linkage 41within the machine.

The drive mechanism for the form 12 further includes a pair of spacedsprocket wheels on each of the shafts 30, 32, 34 and 36. The sprocketwheels are so arranged that the wheels 42 on the upper shafts 30 and 32are in opposed relation to the wheels 44 on the lower shafts 34 and 36.Preferably each of the wheels 42 and 44 will be adjustably mounted ionthe shafts, as by means of a extending tianges.

set screw 46 passing transversely through a hub 48 at the center of eachwheel. The Sprocket wheels 42 on the upper shafts 30 and 32 have loopedover them endless chains 50 and the sprocket wheels 44 on the lowershafts 34 and 36 have looped over them endless chains 52.

According to the invention and as illustrated in the embodiment ofFIGURES l and 2, each of the lower chains has secured to its outersurface in any convenient manner a plurality of pins 54 which are spacedapart a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent holes 13 in themargins of the form 12. Preferably, and as is conventional in the art,the pins are tapered outwardly along involute curves to facilitate theirentry into and withdrawal from the holes in the form 12 during operationof the machine 10. The exterior surface of the upper chain 50 hassecured thereto a plurality of blunt buttonlike projections such asrectangular blocks 56 which are spaced apart the same distance as thepins 54 on the lower belt 52, thus forming cavities 57 therebetween. Thetwo belts are so arranged on their sprockets that the blocks 56 arelongitudinally offset from the pins 52 and are thereby adapted to engagethe upper surface of the margin of the form 12.

The chains 50 and 52 are spaced apart a distance such that the terminalsurface of the blocks 56 are spaced from the exterior surface of thelower chain 52 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of theform 12. As shown, a single form is being processed but ordinarilyseveral forms superimposed on each other will be handled. In this eventthe spacing between the blocks 56 and the lower chain 52 should beincreased to accommodate the several forms. Alternatively oradditionally, the blocks 56 may be constructed of resilient materialwhich will adjust to the thickness of the forms.

The precise construction of the chains 50 and 52 with their respectiveblocks 56 or pins 54 is not critical so long as the above describedrelationship among blocks 56, pins 54 and the form 12 is retained. Theblocks 54 and pins 52 may be secured directly to the links of the chainsor a suitable intermediate structure may be provided therebetween. Insome machines it may be desirable to offset the blocks and pinslaterally from the chain by providing the links of the chains with thinlaterally It is also contemplated that endless belts rather than endlesschains would be suitable under -some conditions and that belts loopedover chains would also be suitable.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 5, an upper 'chain 50 is providedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced pin-receiving cavities 57 andlower chain 52 is provided with spaced pins 54. The chains are soarranged on their sprockets 42 and 44' and are so spaced apart that theform 12 is rmly gripped between the opposed chains. As shown in FIGUREthe cavities 57 are generally elliptical to permit entry and withdrawalof the pins 54 but any shape could be used which provides sufficientclearance between the cavity wall and the pins 54' during their relativemovements. In the particular construction shown the exterior surfaces ofthe chains 50 and 52 have secured thereto a plurality of cleats 69 whichare provided with the cavities 57 or the pins 54. In this embodiment asin the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 the pins are spaced apart adistance equal to the spacing between the holes 13 in the form 12.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 6 each of the upper and lower chains50 and 52" is provided with an outer tightly titting flexible belt 62.Each belt 62 is provided with spaced pins 54 and cavities 57 inalternating relationship, the distance between adjacent cavities andpins being the spacing between holes 13. The belts are offsetlongitudinally so that each pin 54" is opposite a cavity 57 whereby thepins 54 may pass through holes 13 and into cavities 57 in the oppositebelt 62. FIGURE 4 illustrates a further feature of the present inventionin that the lower chain 52" and belt 62 extend beyond the upper chain50" in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the forms 12,two of which are illustrated in this figure. This feature isadvantageous in feeding a new form into the device in that it leaves atleast one pin 54 exposed for engaging the first hole at the end of a newform.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate the principles of the present inventionapplied to opposed drive wheels for paper forms 12. As seen in FIGURE 7,the peripheral surfaces of identical drive wheels 64 are provided withspaced alternate pins 66 and cavities 68, and the wheels 64 are arrangedso that the pins 66 are opposed to the cavities 68 in the other wheel.In FIGURE 8, an upper wheel 70 is provided only with spaced cavities 68and a lower Wheel 72 is provided only with pins 66. As in the case ofthe pins and cavities of FIGURES 1-7, the spacings therebetween will beselected so that in operation of the device a pin 66 will pass througheach marginally punched hole 13 of a form 12 and into a cavity 68whereby the form will be held securely between the peripheries of thewheels. Conveniently, each of the wheels 64 and 70 may be mounted on adriven shaft 74 and may be adjustably mounted thereon. The shafts 74 maybe driven in any convenient manner as by gears or sprockets so as tomaintain the desired relationship between opposed wheels. The wheeldrive of FIGURES 7 and 8 can be used as a drive and form-alignmentmechanism in electric accounting machines and high speed printers orauxiliary equipment. Low speed printers or simpler machines whichinclude standard typewriting elements in their mechanisms may use thewheel drive of the present invention as the primary advance device forthe paper forms.

The operation of the machine 10 is believed to be clear from thepreceding description. The paper form 12 is securely held along bothmargins by the various pin and cavity arrangements described above andis advanced intermittently past a printing station within the case 16.The printing mechanism and the motor drive for the chain 40, andconsequently for the remainder of the advance mechanism 14, receivetheir signals from auxiliary equipment which takes information frompunched cards or magnetic tape or from electronic computers. In someinstances, particularly when the machine 10 1s connected to a computer,the printing and advance mechanisms operate at rates of 60() printedlines per minute and higher; that is, the advance mechanism may startand stop morethan 600 times a minute. The clamping of the margins of theform by the disclosed movable elements and the absence of frictionaldrag on the paper by the drive elements achieve accurate movement of theform without damage thereto.

Further, when a plurality of superimposed forms are used in conjunctionwith the drive arrangement of the present invention, no precautions needbe taken to assure that the forms will be maintained in alignment witheach other. With prior drive systems it has been found necessary tofasten the forms together by temporary methods such as crimping or bymore permanent methods such as glulng or stapling. In either case theinitial cost of the forms is increased by the inclusion of the fasteningmeans, and the cost of using the forms is increased by the necessity ofseparating the forms after processing through the machine. Thus, byeliminating the necessity for fastening the forms together, the presentinvention effects a substantial savings to the users of machines whichprocess continuous, marginally punched forms and to the makers of theforms.

While several embodiments have been described by way of illustration, itis not intended that the invention be limited to the details thereofexcept as such details apypear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1..In a printing machine or the like which includesa printing station for applying printing to a portion of a continuouspaper form having marginally punched holes therein and drive means foradvancing the form intermittently and longitudinally of itself to saidstation, an improved drive means which effects rapid intermittentadvance of the form Without appreciable frictional drag on the form,said drive means comprising: spaced rst and second pairs of endlessmembers the members of each pair arranged in opposed relationship forcarrying a margin of a paper form therebetween; spaced projectionscarried by at least one endless member of each pair extending outwardlyat right angles thereto for projecting into and through the holes in therespective margin of the paper form to be advanced, the other endlessmember of each pair having cavities therein opposite said projections,said cavities receiving said projections as the members of each pairrevolve whereby the respective margin of the paper form is retainedbetween each pair of endless membersi separate power-operated meansassociated with each endless member of each pair for positivelyrevolving its respective endless member to thereby advance the paperform, each of said power-operated means being independent of the paperform and of any engagement between the endless members of a pair; meansindependent of the paper form and of any engagement between the endlessmembers of a pair for synchronizing movement of the endless members ofeach pair; and means independent of the paper form for synchronizingmovement of the said rst and second pairs of endless members.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said endless membersincludes an endless looped member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which one of said endless members of eachpair extends beyond the other in a direction opposite to the directionof travel of the form to facilitate introducing the end of a paper formbetween the looped members.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said cavities are formed by thespaces between longitudinally spaced button-like members extending fromthe endless member.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said endless members is arotatable wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 351,190 10/86Mayberry 198--165 1,723,950 8/ 29 Mueller. 1,852,419 4/ 32 Kuchenmeister226-85 2,140,028 12/ 38 Nichols 226-74 2,351,999 6/ 44 Nerwin 226-742,45 3,031 1 l 48 Olds 226--74 2,572,172 10/51 McCusker 198-165 FOREIGNPATENTS 471,871 9/ 37 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSLEY, RAPHAEL M. LUPO,

ERNEST A. FALLER, Examiners.

1. IN A PRINTING MECHINE OR THE LIKE WHICH INCLUDES A PRINGITN STATIONFOR APPLYING PRINTING TO A PORTION OF A CONTINUUS PAPER FORM HAVINGMARGINALLY PUNCHED HOLES THEREIN AND DRIVE MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE FORMINTERMITTENTLY AND LONGITUDINALLY OF ITSELF TO SAID STATION, AN IMPROVEDDRIVE MEANS WHICH EFFECTS RAPID INTERMITTENT ADVANCE OF THE FORM WITHOUTAPPRECIABLE FRICTIONAL DRUG ON THE FORM WITHOUT APPRECIABLE FRICTIONALDRUG SECOND PAIRS OF ENDLESS MEMBERS THE MEMBERS OF EACH PAIR ARRANGEDIN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP FOR CARRYING A MARGIN OF A PAPER FORMTHEREBETWEEN; SAPCED PROJECTIONS CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE ENDLESS MEMBEROF EACH PAIR EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO FOR PROJECTINGINTO AND THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE RESPECTIVE MARGIN OF THE PAPER FORM TOBE ADVANCED, THE OTHER ENDLESS MEMBER OF EACH PAIR HAVING CAVITIESTHEREIN OPPOSITE SAID PROJECTIONS, SAID CAVITIES RECEIVING SAIDPROJECTIONS AS THE MEMBERS OF EACH PAIR REVOLVE WHEREBY THE RESPECTIVEMARGIN OF THE PAPER FORM IS RETAINED BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ENDLESSMEMBERS; SEPARATE POWER-OPERATED MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ENDLESSMEMBER OF EACH PAIR OF POSITIVELY REVOLVING EACH ENDLESS MEMBER OF EACHPAIR FOR POSITIVELY REVOLVING ITS RESPECTIVE ENDLESS MEMBER TO THEREBYADVANCE THE PAPER PENDENT OF THE PAPER FORM AND OF ANY ENGAGEMENTBETWEEN THE ENDLESS MEMBERS OF A PAIR; MEANS INDEPENDENT OF THE PAPERFORM AND OF ANY ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE ENDLESS MEMBERS OF A PAIR OFSYNCHRONIZING MOVEMENT OF THE ENDLESS MEMBERS OF EACH PAIR; AND MEANSINDEPENDENT OF THE PAPER FORM FOR SYNCHRONIZING MOVEMENT OF THE SAIDFIRST ADN SECOND PAIRS OF ENDLESS MEMBERS.